vulture

noun

vul·​ture ˈvəl-chər How to pronounce vulture (audio)
1
: any of various large birds (families Accipitridae and Cathartidae) that are related to the hawks, eagles, and falcons but have weaker claws and the head usually naked and that subsist chiefly or entirely on carrion
2
: a rapacious or predatory person
vulturish adjective

Examples of vulture in a Sentence

As soon as they learned of his arrest, the media vultures started circling. noted that the paparazzi are vultures who could not exist without the connivance of the tabloid-buying public
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Contrary to one famous 9th century CE codex, vulture eyes wrapped in a fox pelt will not reduce your own eye pains. Andrew Paul Jul 17, Popular Science, 17 July 2025 Growing up in India, environmental economist Anant Sudarshan remembers the vultures. Jonathan Lambert, NPR, 11 July 2025 Never one to miss an opportunity to address a crowd of culture vultures, UK Minister Chris Bryant, who speaks fluent French, waxed lyrical about French cinema, citing Plein Soleil and Les Enfants du Paradis as personal faves. Max Goldbart, Deadline, 11 July 2025 In some cases, there are binoculars to look at nature (wild pigs and vultures) as well as Launch Complex 39 – Pad B, from where the Hubble Space Telescope was sent up, and the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for vulture

Word History

Etymology

Middle English vultur, from Anglo-French, from Latin

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of vulture was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Vulture.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vulture. Accessed 24 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

vulture

noun
vul·​ture ˈvəl-chər How to pronounce vulture (audio)
1
: any of various large birds that feed mostly on animals found dead and that are related to the hawks and eagles but have weaker claws and the head usually naked
2
: a greedy or predatory person

More from Merriam-Webster on vulture

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